Clark Leads U.S. Sweep at X Games

TIGNES, FRA (Mar. 14) – Under a starry French sky, U.S. Snowboarding swept the snowboard halfpipe podium at European X Games. Olympian Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) soared to yet another victory with an enormous frontside 1080. Olympian, Elena Hight (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) stepped up her run with big amplitude in the shape of a huge backside air while Kaitlyn Farrington (Bellevue, ID) rounded out the podium with a progressive run of three 900’s.

HIGHLIGHTS

• U.S. Snowboarding team members swept the European X Games snowboard halfpipe, with Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) in first, Elena Hight (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) second and Kaitlyn Farrington (Bellevue, ID) third.
• Clark’s run consisted of a frontside 720, cab 720, frontside 900, backside 540, and huge frontside 1080. Her run also featured a grab on every hit. New to her run was her frontside 1080 for her first hit.
• Hight came in hot with a huge backside air, frontside 720, cab 720, frontside 900, backside 900, and a smooth alley-oop rodeo.
• Farrington, in her highest scoring and third run, did an air to fakie, cab 720, frontside 900, backside 900, frontside 720, and switch front 9.
• This is Clark’s 18^th straight event on the podium and second consecutive European X Games top spot.
• Ellery Hollingsworth (Darien, CT) had a strong run and landed in seventh.
• This wraps up the competition season for the halfpipe women. The men take to halfpipe finals tomorrow evening.

QUOTES
Kelly Clark
I’m really happy with my run tonight; I came back from my first run fall and was able to put down the run that I wanted. It was a personal best for me tonight and I feel really honored to be on top of the podium with these girls when they rode so well.

It was a personal best because it was the most technical run I have landed in a contest. I got to do back-to-back 7’s, a 9, a backside 5 and a front 10. My third run, I had it won, but I got to do my 10 for my first hit, which I have never done before. I did a cab 7 to a front 9 and finished off with a back 5. As a win, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Elena Hight
I am really happy on being able to come out here and land my run. The last couple contests have been great and I am happy it is all coming together and feel good about my riding. Everyone is riding so well, it’s cool to be up there with Kaitlyn, Kelly and Ellery and we are all pushing each other.

I was beyond excited about my win last week [at the U.S. Open]. Kelly has been so on top of her game. Our level has gotten so high; it’s really anyone’s win. I’m just stoked that I am right up there with Kelly.

Kaitlyn Farrington
I am really glad to be on the podium. This is the last event of the season and I couldn’t be any more happy to end it with a third place because it was a rough one for me last week at the U.S. Open. It’s really good to be on the podium at the last event of the season and now it’s over and I am genuinely happy.

RESULTS
Official Results

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